BERTALDA'S WEDDING


The wedding-day dawned bright and clear, the guests assembled in the
castle and wore their gayest garments, yet over everything there
brooded a dark cloud. It seemed to the knight, as well as to his
guests, that some one was missing from the feast, and the thoughts of
all turned to the beautiful Undine.

The bride seemed happier than any one else, yet even she knew a cloud
was in her sky.

Slowly the hours of the wedding-day dragged on, but at length the
ceremony was over, the feast ended, and the guests ready to depart.

When they had gone, Bertalda, thinking to dispel the gloom which had
now fallen upon her spirit, told her maids to spread out before her
all her rich jewels and gorgeous robes. She would choose to-night the
garments in which she would array herself on the morrow.

Her waiting-maids did as they were told, and when the dresses and
jewels were spread out before their new mistress, they began to
flatter her and tell her that none was fairer than she.

Bertalda listened with pleasure to their praises. Then looking at
herself in the mirror she sighed. 'Alas, but see these little brown
spots that have appeared on my neck.'

The maids saw indeed, as their mistress said, that there were freckles